Minor League Daily Update: Wednesday

Tanner Scheppers and Drew Storen have appeared in a couple of games and each own a save.  Scheppers sports a 6K/0BB ratio and I think he can contribute to a shaky Texas bullpen late in the year (maybe sooner but he has had shoulder problems so going slow may be advisable).  Ethan Martin was impressive striking out 9 (with 0BB) in 5IP.  Kyle Gibson was a little uneven but sports 13Ks in his first 9.2IP against only 2BB in two starts.

Pitching Spotlight:  Wilmer Font

Font was 8-3 with a 3.49 ERA in A-ball last year.  He has a big fastball that can get into the upper 90’s and his change-up has shown promise (could develop into a nice out pitch for him).  Font pitches in the Texas system which boasts some pretty good young arms – this allows Texas to go slow with him and let him fully develop starter material. 

His first start of 2010 was excellent with 8K’s and 1BB.  In 2009 he had a 2:1 K to BB ratio so he needs to hone his control – if he continues on his 2010 path, we can say mission accomplished.  Wilmer could crack the top 100 prospects list in 2011. 

Look for at least 2 more years of development in the minors.  Texas could bring him up sooner for bullpen support but I think they are doing Neftali Feliz a disservice by having him go back and forth from starter and bullpen – they will either make Feliz a strict bullpen guy with this method or delay his eventual progression as a starting pitcher – I would not want to see Font go down this road (albeit Font is not in the same class as Neftali). 

Most of the batters listed have gotten off to slow starts.  One thing that jumped out at me was that Greg Halman is striking out at a 57% rate through the first week or so of action.  If he could even cut that number by a third he would rocket up the prospect charts as he has huge power but as it stands he is only a 2 outcomes type of player (HR or K).  Wil Myers has had a slow start – I like him for possibly 2012 for Houston.  Austin Romine needs to get hot at the plate.  Jesus Montero has the bat but Romine is a true catcher with better defensive skills.  I love Montero and he has worked extremely hard at improving his play at catcher, but Romine is most likely the catcher of the future in New York.  Montero’s bat will play anywhere but I agree with most out there that say a position change is inevitable.

I am a big fan of Burgess, Freeman, and Marrero – looking for big years from them.  All have started slow but something tells me that won’t last too long.

More to come on the Thursday round-up and then we will check back in with our Friday group of players to end the week and see what they have been up to over the past week of play.